A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” (Isaiah 40:6 NRSV)
What should I cry? This took me by surprise this morning. If I accept the premise of the question, then I accept that I should be crying out for something. If I should be crying out for something, what is my current situation in which I need to cry out from?
What should I cry? Help! Come Jesus! Those seem like relevant things to cry out in my life. It is easy how quickly I am geared to be self-centered. I just assume that I should be crying out for myself. Instead of crying to and for someone else.
That is just it. I should cry out for the benefit of others. I should cry out for the injustices in the world. I should cry out for those that can’t cry out. I should cry out for the Lord. In Isaiah 40, that is the bottom line. I (we) need to be crying out on the highest mountains the good news of Jesus Christ. The good news that God’s judgment is coupled with his grace; that God is going to tear through the heavens and personally intervene in my experience—in history. We need to proclaim and cry out to people the Good News that Jesus has come and will come again.
Lord, help me to cry! Help us!
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Faithfulness in Advent
"So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness." (1 Chronicles 9:1, NRSV)
"So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord; moreover, he had consulted a medium, seeking guidance," (1 Chronicles 10:13, NRSV)
"And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him." (1 Chronicles 11:9, NRSV)
"Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David; and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to the one who helps you! For your God is the one who helps you.” Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops." (1 Chronicles 12:18, NRSV)
Okay, I get it—it is about faithfulness. But whose? Does God depend on our faithfulness to do his work? Does he only work through us or for us when we are faithful?
The mighty work and favor of David is not because of David’s might, but God’s might. Yet, David was faithful and devoted and walks with God. Our faithfulness matters. The question is: are we faithful because allows us to be faithful and are we unfaithful because God hardens are heart? I think the answer probably is yes and no. Yes, in some ways that is probably true. No, because that is not our experience or at least they way we should perceive our life.
That question is almost relevant. What we are to take away is that we are called to be faithful and when we are God works for us (really for him—because we are only do his work when we are faithful). So how can we be a church or a people that is faithful? Is God with us or are we being put into exile?
Faithfulness is rooted in being the people that he calls us to be: mainly Loving God by Loving our Neighbor. Faithfulness is recognize God an focusing on God in all things. In this Christmas season (which really is Advent season) the world or moreso Satan is attacking the truth and distorting our focus. Instead of focusing on the importance of preparing our self for the once and future King we are allow ourselves to be deceived by the glitz and hurriedness of the secular season of Christmas. What if we were a people that was faithful to the Word of God and live out the Advent season of our lives: Preparing the Way for the Lord.
"So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord; moreover, he had consulted a medium, seeking guidance," (1 Chronicles 10:13, NRSV)
"And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him." (1 Chronicles 11:9, NRSV)
"Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David; and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to the one who helps you! For your God is the one who helps you.” Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops." (1 Chronicles 12:18, NRSV)
Okay, I get it—it is about faithfulness. But whose? Does God depend on our faithfulness to do his work? Does he only work through us or for us when we are faithful?
The mighty work and favor of David is not because of David’s might, but God’s might. Yet, David was faithful and devoted and walks with God. Our faithfulness matters. The question is: are we faithful because allows us to be faithful and are we unfaithful because God hardens are heart? I think the answer probably is yes and no. Yes, in some ways that is probably true. No, because that is not our experience or at least they way we should perceive our life.
That question is almost relevant. What we are to take away is that we are called to be faithful and when we are God works for us (really for him—because we are only do his work when we are faithful). So how can we be a church or a people that is faithful? Is God with us or are we being put into exile?
Faithfulness is rooted in being the people that he calls us to be: mainly Loving God by Loving our Neighbor. Faithfulness is recognize God an focusing on God in all things. In this Christmas season (which really is Advent season) the world or moreso Satan is attacking the truth and distorting our focus. Instead of focusing on the importance of preparing our self for the once and future King we are allow ourselves to be deceived by the glitz and hurriedness of the secular season of Christmas. What if we were a people that was faithful to the Word of God and live out the Advent season of our lives: Preparing the Way for the Lord.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
The Call of a Waiter
From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4 (NRSV)
I dislike waiting. I am not very patient. Amusement parks annoy because you have to wait in line for hours to go on a 3 minute or less ride. Waiting on the internet or a computer is perhaps the most frustrating. Or waiting in traffic—there is no escape. Waiting in can be so painful and challenging.
Yet, there it is…God works for those that wait for him. Yikes! You mean I have to be a waiter (check out this play on words—God calls us to be waiters: being a person that waits for him, and that serves other people). You mean the thing that I struggle with the most is what God is calling us to do—to wait!
Do I wait for his will to be revealed? Do I wait to see what God is doing? Do I wait patiently for him and allow him to do the work or do I just do it.
The call of being a waiter. Argghh. However, The promise is great—He works for us that wait for him.
Lord, help me to be a waiter—to serve your people and to wait for you to work. Grant me patient.
I dislike waiting. I am not very patient. Amusement parks annoy because you have to wait in line for hours to go on a 3 minute or less ride. Waiting on the internet or a computer is perhaps the most frustrating. Or waiting in traffic—there is no escape. Waiting in can be so painful and challenging.
Yet, there it is…God works for those that wait for him. Yikes! You mean I have to be a waiter (check out this play on words—God calls us to be waiters: being a person that waits for him, and that serves other people). You mean the thing that I struggle with the most is what God is calling us to do—to wait!
Do I wait for his will to be revealed? Do I wait to see what God is doing? Do I wait patiently for him and allow him to do the work or do I just do it.
The call of being a waiter. Argghh. However, The promise is great—He works for us that wait for him.
Lord, help me to be a waiter—to serve your people and to wait for you to work. Grant me patient.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Potter and the Right Path
I went to see Harry Potter last night. I have to admit I am a Potter junkie. I can’t get enough of the stories and movies. Every time a movie or book comes out, I rush to read through it all and then go through a period of withdrawals. Good movie, but it strips a lot from the book for the sake of time. If you haven’t read the book (which are they any people out there) I don’t see why you would see the movie.
Anyway at the end of the movie, Professor Dumbledore (the father, wise figure) tells Harry, “we have two choices now, one that is right, and one that is easy.”
Which path are we going to take? The easy one or the right one. It seems hard to determine which is the right path for us to take. However, it isn’t really hard to determine which path is easier. I am not saying that the easy path is always wrong, but at times it is how we escape because the right path is too difficult.
In our culture today, we avoid conflict—at least living in the conflict. We are pretty good at entering into conflict and creating conflict, but we are not very good or eager to live and process through that conflict. It is easier to avoid it and just demonize the other side of conflict, instead of trying to reside and reconcile in the conflict.
The right path is difficult, it is counter-cultural. The right path takes us down a road that seems impossible or too difficult. The right path leads to God and is led by God.
Anyway at the end of the movie, Professor Dumbledore (the father, wise figure) tells Harry, “we have two choices now, one that is right, and one that is easy.”
Which path are we going to take? The easy one or the right one. It seems hard to determine which is the right path for us to take. However, it isn’t really hard to determine which path is easier. I am not saying that the easy path is always wrong, but at times it is how we escape because the right path is too difficult.
In our culture today, we avoid conflict—at least living in the conflict. We are pretty good at entering into conflict and creating conflict, but we are not very good or eager to live and process through that conflict. It is easier to avoid it and just demonize the other side of conflict, instead of trying to reside and reconcile in the conflict.
The right path is difficult, it is counter-cultural. The right path takes us down a road that seems impossible or too difficult. The right path leads to God and is led by God.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Does Jesus identify with me?
Ezekiel 34:16 (NIV) I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
Matthew 25:40 (NRSV) And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Does Jesus identify with me? He clearly identifies himself with the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, the naked, the sick, those in prison. He lists all those people as his family. But does he identify with me? Am I a member of his family? Am I one of those people that he would stand by and say I am like this. In Matthew and Ezekiel he clearly identifies with the poor and the forgotten in society. However, I’m not necessarily one of those people. I don’t really identify with those people. There are different from me, and I feel awkward around them. How can the King of Kings be one of them?
That is the question, yet from the very beginning, Jesus (God with us), identifies with the humble of the world. He entered this world in a stable; in a feed trough for animals with the only visitors initially were shepherds. He entered this world in the lower class and he left this world alone, dying on the cross.
Isn’t that the problem for most of us. It is not that Jesus doesn’t identify with us, it is that we don’t identify with Jesus. We don’t get what Jesus is all about. When we start seeing how Jesus sees the world, we start entering into his will and identify with the people that he does. We can look at the homeless, the hungry and hear their stories and realize they are not that different from us. Really the only difference is a thin line of grace. The sin of my arrogance is to believe that I have what I have because of myself and not because of the grace of God. Yet, even with God’s graciousness he identifies with the have-nots. It is not that we are different than the poor and the down-trodden; the problem is that we are different than Jesus.
Lord, help me to have your eyes, so I can see the world that you do. Help me to have the eyes of your heart, so that my heart may break for this world like yours does. Help me to use my hands and feet so I can serve the world that you serve. Help me to identify with you and your family.
Matthew 25:40 (NRSV) And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Does Jesus identify with me? He clearly identifies himself with the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, the naked, the sick, those in prison. He lists all those people as his family. But does he identify with me? Am I a member of his family? Am I one of those people that he would stand by and say I am like this. In Matthew and Ezekiel he clearly identifies with the poor and the forgotten in society. However, I’m not necessarily one of those people. I don’t really identify with those people. There are different from me, and I feel awkward around them. How can the King of Kings be one of them?
That is the question, yet from the very beginning, Jesus (God with us), identifies with the humble of the world. He entered this world in a stable; in a feed trough for animals with the only visitors initially were shepherds. He entered this world in the lower class and he left this world alone, dying on the cross.
Isn’t that the problem for most of us. It is not that Jesus doesn’t identify with us, it is that we don’t identify with Jesus. We don’t get what Jesus is all about. When we start seeing how Jesus sees the world, we start entering into his will and identify with the people that he does. We can look at the homeless, the hungry and hear their stories and realize they are not that different from us. Really the only difference is a thin line of grace. The sin of my arrogance is to believe that I have what I have because of myself and not because of the grace of God. Yet, even with God’s graciousness he identifies with the have-nots. It is not that we are different than the poor and the down-trodden; the problem is that we are different than Jesus.
Lord, help me to have your eyes, so I can see the world that you do. Help me to have the eyes of your heart, so that my heart may break for this world like yours does. Help me to use my hands and feet so I can serve the world that you serve. Help me to identify with you and your family.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Little Faith
Little faith. Sometimes I feel like I have little faith. Doesn’t God hear me, doesn’t he know what I desire. I cannot move the mountains with my faith, but Jesus says in Matthew 17, if we had the faith of the mustard see we could. How big is my faith then? How big is our faith? Do you really believe God is working in our lives? Do we really believe God has a plan and purpose for Christ Presbyterian Church? Will God bring revival to this church and to this community?
Lord, help my unbelief. Help me ignore the enemy at the door. Help me to ignore the distractions that Satan is putting before us. Help me to hear your voice. Help me to have the faith bigger than a mustard seed. Help me to let go of my will, so your will can consume me.
Lord, Come! Come and bring revival in our hearts so your name can be proclaimed.
Lord, help my unbelief. Help me ignore the enemy at the door. Help me to ignore the distractions that Satan is putting before us. Help me to hear your voice. Help me to have the faith bigger than a mustard seed. Help me to let go of my will, so your will can consume me.
Lord, Come! Come and bring revival in our hearts so your name can be proclaimed.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Quotes from the Men's Retreat
“Relationship with God is a Journey not a destination.”
“Our purpose is intertwined with our personhood.”
“Sin is life destroying and life controlling”
“Surrender….take your life out of your hands.”
“Be a person in love with God’s presence.”
“God didn’t call me to be a success but to be a son (child of God)”
“God doesn’t need my help to run my life…”
“Live out today with the prospect of tomorrow not the past”
“If it is possible, I don’t need God…God dwells in the impossible.”
“What you cannot change, you must control, if you cannot control it, eliminate it.”
“God is moving away me from myself”
“What we know we must preach…we don’t have the luxury of being wrong”
“Does the Gospel with you or me?”
“What is trying to damage my relationship with God?”
“Jesus doesn’t want to be the center of my life, he wants to be my universe.”
“When it is beyond my ability, worship Him.”
Thanks Dwight!
“Our purpose is intertwined with our personhood.”
“Sin is life destroying and life controlling”
“Surrender….take your life out of your hands.”
“Be a person in love with God’s presence.”
“God didn’t call me to be a success but to be a son (child of God)”
“God doesn’t need my help to run my life…”
“Live out today with the prospect of tomorrow not the past”
“If it is possible, I don’t need God…God dwells in the impossible.”
“What you cannot change, you must control, if you cannot control it, eliminate it.”
“God is moving away me from myself”
“What we know we must preach…we don’t have the luxury of being wrong”
“Does the Gospel with you or me?”
“What is trying to damage my relationship with God?”
“Jesus doesn’t want to be the center of my life, he wants to be my universe.”
“When it is beyond my ability, worship Him.”
Thanks Dwight!
Day with Thomas and my Boys
The imagination is amazing thing. My boys love Thomas the Tank Engine. This past summer Jessi and I discovered that a real (minus the talking) Thomas the Train tours the country and pulls passengers around. We knew it would blow Andrew and Joshua's mind to actually take a ride on Thomas. The past several weeks I had been giving hints to them, foreshadowing the actually event happen. I would say something like, "wouldn't it be great to ride in a train." and, "wouldn't it be great if Thomas could take us."I believe God does this for us. He has dropped hints foreshadowing his great wedding banquet for us. He has joyful played with us letting us know what abundance is to come.
When the days seem long, when we seem to have had enough, may we remember the promises and covenant God has made with us, and await for our Thomas ride in the sky.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Dancing with Jesus
The Bride has made herself ready according to Revelation 19. What does it mean that they bride (us) are made ready? How do we make ourselves ready for the marriage to Jesus? The image of marriage to Jesus is powerful and one that we often overlook, our corporate relationship to Jesus is a like a marriage. A marriage works the best when the two parties are unified. In healthy marriages you can’t tell who is leading the dance. It is clear that Jesus is the head of the house and marriage. But he doesn’t lead with an iron fist. Our marriage to Jesus is like a dance, where good dances are stride for stride with each other, and they know each others next moves. The bride so unified with the groom can anticipated the next step or move in the dance.
How are we to be that unified bride that is stride for stride with Jesus in is work in this world?
The bride prepares herself by clothing herself with the righteous deeds of the saints. We are prepared for the wedding by doing his will. We are prepared for the wedding, by dancing with Jesus here and now. We are prepared for Jesus and the wedding, by being people that live out our faith in every moment.
Lord, help me to learn to dance with Jesus in this world. Help me to do the righteous deeds of the saints.
How are we to be that unified bride that is stride for stride with Jesus in is work in this world?
The bride prepares herself by clothing herself with the righteous deeds of the saints. We are prepared for the wedding by doing his will. We are prepared for the wedding, by dancing with Jesus here and now. We are prepared for Jesus and the wedding, by being people that live out our faith in every moment.
Lord, help me to learn to dance with Jesus in this world. Help me to do the righteous deeds of the saints.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
The Gospel of Generosity
The essence of the Gospel is that God is gracious and generous. It doesn't get more complicated than that. God generous gives of himself. He didn't need to entry in this world. He doesn't need us. Yet, He willingly entered this world and offered himself as a sacrifice. He gave his life for us. The is nothing more generous than giving your life. However, God didn't just give his life for one life or for two or even just 12. He gave his life for everybody, for all times. That is an endless and generous giving.
This morning I was reading in Matthew 15. It talks about how Jesus went up to a mountain and people kept bringing him the poor, the lame, the blind, etc. Jesus kept healing them for three days. He generously gave of his time and his power. Then with compassion in his heart, he decided to feed these people. The disciples break 7 loaves (7 being the symbol of perfection) So a complete or a prefected loaf was broken for 4,000 plus people. Yet, there was still so more left over. Jesus body was broken not just for 4,000 plus people, but for all Humanity. And when all is said and done, the we be left over pieces. He gives all of himself generously to us, yet he still always has more to give. Our gracious God gives abundantly and then some.
How are we to be like Jesus and be generous givers? What is our life to look like if we give abundantly and generously of ourselves? Things to think about during the season of stewardship.
Lord, Help me to give of myself generously. Don't let me hold back. The only thing I have to offer in this world is myself. Let me give myself, all of myself to you, to serve you. May CPC be a church that are generous givers.
This morning I was reading in Matthew 15. It talks about how Jesus went up to a mountain and people kept bringing him the poor, the lame, the blind, etc. Jesus kept healing them for three days. He generously gave of his time and his power. Then with compassion in his heart, he decided to feed these people. The disciples break 7 loaves (7 being the symbol of perfection) So a complete or a prefected loaf was broken for 4,000 plus people. Yet, there was still so more left over. Jesus body was broken not just for 4,000 plus people, but for all Humanity. And when all is said and done, the we be left over pieces. He gives all of himself generously to us, yet he still always has more to give. Our gracious God gives abundantly and then some.
How are we to be like Jesus and be generous givers? What is our life to look like if we give abundantly and generously of ourselves? Things to think about during the season of stewardship.
Lord, Help me to give of myself generously. Don't let me hold back. The only thing I have to offer in this world is myself. Let me give myself, all of myself to you, to serve you. May CPC be a church that are generous givers.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Crumbs of Faith, Loaf of Doubt
I went to a local pastors' fellowship event today. I was encourage to see some many faithful and devoted followers of Jesus. We sang, prayed, and had communion together. It was a blessed event. Pastors' came from all over the theological spectrum (all evangelical). At one moment in our time together we prayed for healing for one of the man. Pastors' rose up to heal him and pray for his healing.
It is amazing when doubt creeps up on you. In this time of many blessings, I was doubting. Doubting God. Doubting God whether he would really heal this person or not. The man proclaimed healing upon himself--but I was worried about follow-up. What happens if the man's symptoms come back, what happens to his faith? What happens to the faith of these pastors who proclaim this healing?
Doubt it is an amazing thing. Without it, we wouldn't have faith. In Matthew 15, I read today about the canaanite woman asking Jesus for healing of her daughter. Jesus initial refuses, but she persists him. He acknowledges her faith and heals the person. Her faith was great.
Does doubt preclude great faith?
A crumb of a faith from my master's table overrides my loaf of doubt.
Lord, may I be a person that holds onto the crumbs of faith from your table. May CPC be a community that holds onto those crumbs as well. Thank you Jesus!
It is amazing when doubt creeps up on you. In this time of many blessings, I was doubting. Doubting God. Doubting God whether he would really heal this person or not. The man proclaimed healing upon himself--but I was worried about follow-up. What happens if the man's symptoms come back, what happens to his faith? What happens to the faith of these pastors who proclaim this healing?
Doubt it is an amazing thing. Without it, we wouldn't have faith. In Matthew 15, I read today about the canaanite woman asking Jesus for healing of her daughter. Jesus initial refuses, but she persists him. He acknowledges her faith and heals the person. Her faith was great.
Does doubt preclude great faith?
A crumb of a faith from my master's table overrides my loaf of doubt.
Lord, may I be a person that holds onto the crumbs of faith from your table. May CPC be a community that holds onto those crumbs as well. Thank you Jesus!
Monday, November 07, 2005
Seeing thru the details
Sorry about the delay in posting. I had problems with my firewall and cookies, all things too detailed for me. In fact I become too focused on the details and couldn't see the big picture at time. I don't know how much time I spent trying to solve the details that I became trapped in the box of all the little details.
Don't get me work the little details are important, but sometimes they distract us from the reality of the situation. In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about separating the sheep and the goat. The criteria he uses is those that care for the least of these compare to those that don't.
Those that feed the hungry, that give drink to the thirsty, that clothe the naked, welcome in strangers, that care for the sick, the visit those in prison receive eternal life. Hmm, sounds okay, but that is hard to do for somepeople or to do all the time. Perhaps the point is not always doing it, worry about what we are doing and what we are not doing, but perhaps we should be people that are so transformed by the Gospel of Jesus that our lifestyle, our worldview allows us to see through the details of people and see them.
Can we see through the details of the homeless, the drug abusers, the criminals? Can we see through the details of those that are different (are they really that different?)?
Are we able to see the details of the lowly and poor birth of an infant child and see the savior and the King? Can we see through the details of unwed pregnant teenager and see the virgin mother of our Lord? Jesus doesn't differentiate circumstances but he sees people that are broken and forgotten and He remembers them.
Lord, Let me be a person that remembers them and sees through the details. Help me not to be trapped by the details. Help me to have the eyes and ears that you have, so I can see what you see, and hear what you hear.
Don't get me work the little details are important, but sometimes they distract us from the reality of the situation. In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about separating the sheep and the goat. The criteria he uses is those that care for the least of these compare to those that don't.
Those that feed the hungry, that give drink to the thirsty, that clothe the naked, welcome in strangers, that care for the sick, the visit those in prison receive eternal life. Hmm, sounds okay, but that is hard to do for somepeople or to do all the time. Perhaps the point is not always doing it, worry about what we are doing and what we are not doing, but perhaps we should be people that are so transformed by the Gospel of Jesus that our lifestyle, our worldview allows us to see through the details of people and see them.
Can we see through the details of the homeless, the drug abusers, the criminals? Can we see through the details of those that are different (are they really that different?)?
Are we able to see the details of the lowly and poor birth of an infant child and see the savior and the King? Can we see through the details of unwed pregnant teenager and see the virgin mother of our Lord? Jesus doesn't differentiate circumstances but he sees people that are broken and forgotten and He remembers them.
Lord, Let me be a person that remembers them and sees through the details. Help me not to be trapped by the details. Help me to have the eyes and ears that you have, so I can see what you see, and hear what you hear.
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